Volume 2 Chapter 49: Composing a Poem (Seeking Three Rivers Ticket!)

  Today, I was inexplicably deducted 30,000 clicks, which is ridiculous. Others have tens of millions of clicks and nothing happens, but when we have just a few million clicks on Sanjiang, there's a problem? It's too much to bear, seeking all kinds of comfort, it's too bullying!

  It's strange to say, but with a glance from the old man Huang, the feeling of shock and unease that surged up in Chen Jianchen's heart was quickly suppressed, however Chen Jianchen became even more vigilant - he had condensed his righteous energy, making him even more sensitive to evil and demonic auras, far surpassing ordinary people, and in an instant, he already had a grasp on the situation.

  Slightly lowering her head, she gazed sideways at the cool pavilion, pretending to be lofty and distant, watching the white mist flying over the Mirror Lake.

  Before long, the students and teachers of the two colleges were all carried up on sedan chairs. Some people came to Bishan for the first time, and they excitedly walked into the viewing pavilion to enjoy the magnificent scenery around.

  After a period of preparation, everyone gathered together. The two colleges were divided into factions and began their formal exchange activities. They took turns asking questions, but the content of the questions did not involve current events or classical texts. Instead, they focused on improvisational poetry recitation, word composition, couplet creation, and riddle guessing.

  These themes and contents are all "signature dishes" of literati and poets.

  At first, Chen Jianchen was quite interested and wanted to hear the level of these impromptu poems. However, as he listened on, it became increasingly clear that something was off. When Wu Da Gongzi started reciting his poem, he sauntered up to the pavilion, fanning himself with a folding fan, and struck a contemplative pose. After a brief moment, he snapped the fan shut with a flourish and began to declaim in a loud voice: "A river flows beneath the mountain..."

  Pfft!

  Chen Jianchen almost made a fool of himself, hastily turning his head around and barely suppressing the laughter in his heart.

  "Good poem! Good poem!"

  Wu Gongzi finished reciting a five-character poem, and the crowd immediately applauded with loud claps, praising him endlessly. It's unknown whether they thought it was a good poem or just that Wu Gongzi was a "good" person.

  As the conversation went on, many people showed their faces, but only Chen Jianchen remained silent, sitting on one side without any expression.

  Wu Wenzai had been paying attention to him for a long time, and suddenly spoke up: "Liu Xian, you were first in the imperial examination as a child prodigy, with an innate talent that is simply astonishing, and your literary talents are overflowing. We've all heard of your reputation for a long time now. Why don't I test you to see how you do?"

  Upon hearing this, the students from both academies began to clamor and wanted to see Chen Jianchen's skills with their own eyes.

  It's finally here...

  "Brother Wencai, what kind of examination method is this?"

  Wu Wenzai burst out laughing, his hand holding a folding fan shaking lightly as he walked a few steps before slapping his palm: "Got it."

  He said, walking to the edge of the teahouse and pointing at the pillar, "Liu Xian, you are a talented young man. If I were to test your abilities lightly, you would certainly look down on me. It's better if I test you more rigorously. Since it's my turn to set the topic, take seven steps forward and compose an impromptu poem. Then, write it on this pillar with your own hand, so we can appreciate your calligraphy skills."

  He speaks lightly, but anyone with a bit of sense knows that this is an unvarnished challenge. Who knows what kind of questions you'll come up with, casually tossing out some obscure and esoteric ones? Wanting to improvise poetry is really extremely difficult, not to mention the seven-step time limit, I'm afraid even some shallow and superficial works can't be completed.

  But having promised and being unable to write poetry, I'd lose face anyway.

  Wu Wenzai, however, did not give Chen Jianchen time to think, and shouted: "Wang Cai, the pen and ink are ready."

  His servant immediately took out a brush and ink from his side.

  The pen is made of the finest wolf hair, and the ink is also top-grade Huizhou ink. The seven-star inkstone is an excellent product from the old kilns of Duanzhou. Just this set of pen and ink is worth a gold ingot in market value.

  "Your Excellency, please!"

  Na Wangcai ground the ink well and presented it to Chen Jianchen. It seemed polite but was actually a threat.

  Chen Jianchen did not pick up his pen at the first moment.

  Wu Wencai sneered: "Are you afraid, Mo Xian? Or is it that the first place in the three trials was just a fluke, so you don't dare to take on my brother's test?"

  Chen Jianchen said in a low voice: "Please ask Wenchai brother to set the topic."

  Seeing him being hooked by himself, Wu Wencai was overjoyed and said: "You can rest assured that I won't deliberately make it difficult for you with some obscure questions... Hmm, let's take 'Dusk' as the topic, just write a five-character poem."

  He played this trick beautifully, and came out with a relatively simple five-character verse, titled "Twilight", which also has nothing to do with the original topic of "life and death".

  So others can't say anything against him anymore.

  But with the theme of "Twilight", it is extremely empty and broad, difficult to grasp, even if Chen Jianchen can write it out within seven steps, at most it would be a failed work...

  Wu Wenzai was not afraid of Chen Jianchen writing it out, on the contrary, he actually hoped that Chen Jianchen would hastily write a rotten poem and write it on the pillar of the teahouse, leaving it for all travelers to "appreciate".

  A rotten poem dares to be inscribed on the pillar, this will become an indelible stain in Chen Jianchen's life, and people will view it as overestimating one's abilities, becoming a laughing stock, and even compromising personal integrity.

  To know that the Pen Holder Mountain is extraordinary, many officials and nobles, literati and poets come and go, their eyesight is far from ordinary scholars and bookworms, naturally they can distinguish between good and bad poetry at a glance.

  Chen Jianchen wrote a rotten poem and posted it on the pillar of a tea house. This behavior is like pulling a lump of shit on the top of Pen Rack Mountain, which will naturally provoke people's disgust, aversion, and even curses.

  Wu Wenzai is so sinister and vicious.

  Although he is arrogant and vengeful, with no learning or skills, he still has some self-awareness. When responding to poems on occasions, even if his responses are poor, others won't take them seriously and will just listen without paying much attention. However, the written records left behind are a different story altogether. Therefore, usually, people who don't have much talent wouldn't easily choose to leave their poems at famous scenic spots; at most, they would only write on paper.

  Among the twists and turns, many people in the field did not expect it, but instead shouted loudly, especially some female college students, who even cheered for Chen Jianchen.

  Several gentlemen noticed and furrowed their brows, but none of them chose to speak up.

  Who dares to interrupt Wu Dazhong's interest now?

  Nie Xiaoqian's eyes sparkled, seemingly a bit disapproving, but she didn't stop him either. She simply fixed her gaze on Chen Jianchen, as if to see what he was capable of and whether he could see through Wu Wencai's intentions.

  Under the gaze of everyone, Chen Jianchen suddenly revealed a hint of a smile, picked up his brush and ink, and walked over with a light step.

  He didn't take seven steps at all, but directly walked up to the pillar, using only three steps.

  That pillar was made of solid fir wood, as thick as a giant bowl, polished to be smooth like a mirror, not a single splinter could be found.

  Chen Jianchen picked up his pen and began writing with a flourish.

  For some reason, seeing his calm and composed appearance, Wu Wencai inexplicably felt a sense of unease, as if he had misapplied his efforts.

  But in a moment, Chen Jianchen's poem was finished, and the ink marks were left on the pillar, very eye-catching, visible from afar.

  Wu Wencai took a step forward and loudly recited: "As the sun sets, the fragrance wafts, the wind whispers on the steep peak; The evening sun is infinitely beautiful, but it's just near dusk!"

  Behind there are six small characters: Jiangzhou Chen Jianchen's inscription.